Head-gear for vehicles



( o Model.)

J. G. KELLEY.

HEAD GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

No. 395,237. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

WITJVESSES I 06 @M N. PEIERS. Phnko-Lilhagnpher, Washington. mc.

DUNITED STATES PATENT OErrcE.

JAMES C. KELLEY, OF LEONARDVILLE, KANSAS.

HEAD -GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Patent No. 395,237, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed November 21, 1887- Serial No, 255,783 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J Arms 0. KELLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Leonardville, in the county of Riley and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Head-Gear for Yehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of myv new and improved head-gear for vehicles. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same, and Fig. is a perspective detail view of the extension of the reach.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding-parts in the several figures.

Myinvention has relation to head-gear for vehicles; and itv consists in the peculiar construction and comljrination ot' the several parts of the same, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accon'qiianying drawin the letter A indicates the fifth-wh eel, consisting of two seg ments, which I will'designate, for convenience of reference, as the upper and lower segments, B and C,.respectively. The upper segment, B, is struck out from a single piece of sheet or plate metal, and consists of the transverse bearing-plate D, having therewith the clip-arms E, which are fastened to the head-block F of a vehicle by their upper reduced ends projecting through slots or apertures in tie-plates G, and bent or flanged, as seen at H, so as to prevent them from becoming detached from the said tie-plates. The outer edge of this segment B is flanged, as shown at I, which serves as a dust-guard for the lower segment, C, and the segment is further provided with a lip or projection, B.

The lower half or segment of the fifth-wheelis provided with similarly-constructed cliparins J and tie-plates K, and is secured in substantially the same manner as the upper segment, with the exception of one pair of clip-arms, which are secured by means of a rearwardly-curved tie-plate, L, the rear reduced and rounded end of which projects through a slot in its straight flat portion, or, in other words, that portion which bears against the under side of the axle, and isbenl: or flanged, as shown at M, to prevent it from becoming det aehed. The transverse l.)eari11gplates of the segments are formed at theirintermediate portions with ethic-bearings N and 0, through which a king-bolt, P, which is seated with its countersunk head in the conebearing of the lower segment, projects with its shank portion through the cone of the upper segment, and thence through the headblock of the vehicle, where it is secured. By thus securing the king-bolt and forming the transverse bearirig-plates of the segments with (acme-bearings I obtain a smooth and strong pivot-joint, and at the same time dispcnse with the trouble of. boring a hole through the axle-tree, as is commonly done.

Q indicates the reach-socket, struck from a single piece of sheetor plate metal and formed with a hollow cylindrical body portion, Q,

the forward end of which suitably secured to the ki ng-bolt and the head-Mock ot' the vehicle, while the rearlower end terminates in a down wardly and forwardly curved brace or support, Q, the free end of which is pivoted to turn laterally on the reduced and rounded portion of the curved tie-plate L, while the upper portion, Q parallel with the body of the cylindrical socket Q, and is secured to the said body and to the lip upon the inner edge of the upper segment by meansof a rivet or any other suitable fastening device, thus forming a strong support for the fifth-wheel and the reach-soclwt, and at the same time forming a guide for the lower segment. On the under side of this reach-socketis a transverse elongated aperture, Q, the object of which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

R represents the reach-extension, which is secured to the forward end of the reach. This extension is formed with a solid cylindrical body portion atits forward end, which is swiveled in the socket Q, by a round nut or projection, Q secured to its end, which is afterward struck up, as shown at R, to prevent the nut from working off, while its rear portion is coned and then formed with long and short flat wings or strips R and R respectively, by which the extension proper is secured to the reach; but should it be desired to attach this extension to a vehicle employing two reaches the long side wings or strips are bent outwardly and are secured to the sides of the reaches, the beveled meeting ends of which are secured together at their upper and lower sides by the short strips or wings.

A stop-bolt, T, is secured to the reach-extension near its forward end, and its head projects through and plays laterally in the elongated aperture Q in the reach-socket. This will prevent the vehicle from upsetting, but will at the same time give ample room for it to rock side to side.

It will be seen that by swiveling the reach to the head-block there will be no strain upon the fifth-wheel, and also will permit the run ning-gear of the vehicle to travel over rough or uneven ground without jarring the contents of the vehicle to as great an extent as would be the case with vehicles employing the rigid or stationary reach.

It will be seen that by constructing the several different parts of my invention of plate or sheet metal in the manner herein described the expense is greatly reduced; and it will further be seen by the novel way of connecting the several parts together bolts and nuts are dispensed with, which overcomes i he great difficulty hereinbefore experienced by the heads of the bolts wearing away or by the nuts working loose or dropping olii', causing the several parts to become loose and rat tle or become entirely detached.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a head-gear for vehicles, the combination of the fifth-wheel, consisting of segments, each of which consists of a transverse bearin g-plate formed with a cone-bearing and cliparms struck out from a single piece of sheet or plate metal, a rearward curved plate having the rounded and reduced end secured to the intermediate clip-arms of the transverse bearing-plate of the lower segment, the reachsocket struck out from a single piece of plate or sheet metal and formed into the cylindrical shape shown and described, the rear end of which is adapted to be secured to the headblock of a vehicle, and a curved support integral with the other end of said socket and pivoted at its lower end to the reduced and rounded portion of the curved tie-plate.

2. In a head-gear for vehicles, the combination of the fifth-wheel, consistingof segments constructed and struck out in substantially the manner described, a king-bolt, a reachsoeket constructed from a single piece of sheet or plate metal, and a curved support integral with the rear end of said socket, the lower end of 'said support being pivotally connected, while the upper rear straight portion is secured by means of a rivet to the reach-socket, and a reach-extension comprising a cylindrical body portion, the forward end of which is provided with an enlargement or nut and the rear end provided with strips or wings.

3. In a head-gear for vehicles, the combination of a reach-socket, as described, having an elongated aperture in its side, with a reachextension and a bolt secu red thereto and projecting with its head through said aperture.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. KELLEY.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS J. ENLow, JOHN JACKSON. 

